Getafe vs Athletic Bilbao preview - Euro chance spurs Garcia on

Posted Saturday, March 16, 2013 by PA

Getafe coach Luis Garcia has revealed his excitement at the thought of playing European football this season and believes his side must beat Athletic Bilbao on Saturday to keep their hopes of securing a Europa League spot alive.

The Madrid side are ninth in the Primera Division, two points behind the Europa League places.

"Anyone person, any coach, anyone in the world, would want to play European football," the coach told reporters.

"When you play in Europe it's a great occasion for everyone at the club, from the players to the coach to the press officer. I hope we can do it, we are two points away from the European places and we need to keep going on this positive run.

"In the last six games we have won four, drawn one and lost one. We have to win again on Saturday if we want to stay near the top of the league. If we don't win we will start falling away little by little.

"The team are playing well, and giving a positive reaction, and we have to keep on going."

Garcia highlighted Marcelo Bielsa's side's attacking flair and predicted an "end-to-end" match.

He said: "They attack in numbers and their players are very dynamic, they have some very good attacking players such as Markel Susaeta, Oscar De Marcos and Iker Muniain.

"They are a spectacular team in making the transition from defence to attack, they can get the ball up front in four passes.

"The matches we have played with them have been real spectacles. It will be an end-to-end match and I just hope we take our chances better than they do."

Athletic midfielder Ander Herrera, who will return to the side after missing the 1-0 win over Valencia last weekend due to suspension, echoed Garcia's expectations.

He told reporters: "I think it's going to be a great game, with a lot of opportunities for both teams to score and it's vital we take our chances. I think it'll be a bit of a crazy match."

The midfielder also revealed that the team were much more confident after recording back-to-back wins over Osasuna and Valencia, the first time they had strung together two victories this season.

However, he emphasised that they were still well aware of their precarious position - eight points clear of the relegation zone - and insisted they would not let complacency set in.

He said: "The two wins have given us the confidence to keep on working and made us believe in what we are doing.

"We are now motivated to continue working in the same way as in the last two games but we are not relaxed in any way."